A CMC chamber ensemble, coached by Coordinator Rachel Condry, was chosen by audition to perform at the San Francisco Civic Music Association’s “An Afternoon of Chamber Music” on Saturday, April 22. The musicians are all between the ages of 12-14, and are the only group in the Civic Chamber Concert Series featuring performers under 18 years old. In addition to Rachel’s coaching, they received coaching from a string player from SFCMA in preparation for their performance.

Participation in this concert series is such an honor, that I visited the group’s rehearsal last week to ask them a few questions about their work together and their upcoming performance. I’ve pulled some of my favorite answers from the group in the short interview below.

What drew you to chamber music?

“When I first heard chamber music, I loved hearing the different parts. I noticed that you could hear the individual parts more than you can when you’re listening to an orchestra.”

“I really like hearing other instruments. I like soloing, but I like hearing other instruments and the sounds blending together.”

“I like how the parts all come together so that what we produce is much bigger than an individual sound.”

How long have you all been playing together?

“Rachel put our group together in January of 2017. This is only our second performance together!”

“Now I know what to practice after hearing a recording of the last concert (our first ever).”

Any thoughts on the Haydn piece you’ll perform?

“We meet on Friday afternoons, and we all get this song stuck in our heads for the entire weekend!”

The group also shared that they like the conversational nature of the music and think it is cool to be able to connect to feelings in music that is over 250 years old.